Written In Stone

By Jennifer Smith

Gavin Richard Charles Philip Stone III is handsome, rich, and has his pick of any woman he wants. He has no desire to settle down and produce grandchildren for his mother, but after a hundred and fifty years of playing the field, he might just have found the woman of his dreams. Unfortunately, she has no interest in him whatsoever!
Angela Elliott has been confined to a wheelchair ever since an accident killed her husband and unborn child. She detests attending any social affair at all but sometimes her caregiver just won't take no for an answer. Giving in one more time, she goes to the ball only to sit in the back and watch the other young women dance the night away. That is until Mr. Stone introduces himself and asks her to dance. She is polite but has no desire to be pitied and turns him down flat.
But when Gavin is out strolling one night he catches Mrs. Elliott in a very precarious position...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shh Publishing
• Release date: Oct 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311266828

Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Smith married Aaron, her best friend, in 2007. Their first few years of marriage were challenging in many ways; however, God helped reconcile their marriage relationship. Jennifer began sharing positive encouragement for marriage through UnveiledWife.com in March 2011. With her husband’s support and help, she has traditionally published The Unveiled Wife and self-published a thirty-day marriage devotional titled Wife After God, as well as 31 Prayers for My Husband, 31 Prayers for My Future Husband, and 31 Prayers for My Son and Daughter. Aaron and Jennifer have been working together as a team for the last decade, using their giftings to produce over ten books and help others draw closer to God through their website marriageaftergod.com. The Smiths are eager to continue working together to fulfill God’s purpose for their marriage by publishing Christian marriage books and resources and hosting a weekly Marriage After God podcast as a means to inspire others in their marriage and faith journey. They live with their five young children in central Oregon.

Book preview

Written In Stone

By: Jennifer Smith

~~~

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Jennifer Smith. All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Check out other great books by this author!

1 May I Have This Dance?

2 Home At Last

3 The Auction

4 Children In Mind

5 Dream Lover

6 Like Teaching a Fish To Walk

7 Father Knows Best

8 An Invitation

9 Arrested!

10 Stand & Deliver

11 Scotland

12 Family Feud

13 Called to War

14 A Woman’s Place

15 Gone

Epilogue

Book Blurb:

Gavin Richard Charles Philip Stone III is handsome, rich, and has his pick of any woman he wants. He has no desire to settle down and produce grandchildren for his mother, but after a hundred and fifty years of playing the field, he might just have found the woman of his dreams. Unfortunately, she has no interest in him whatsoever!

Angela Elliott has been confined to a wheelchair ever since an accident killed her husband and unborn child. She detests attending any social affair at all but sometimes her caregiver just won't take no for an answer. Giving in one more time, she goes to the ball only to sit in the back and watch the other young women dance the night away. That is until Mr. Stone introduces himself and asks her to dance. She is polite but has no desire to be pitied and turns him down flat.

But when Gavin is out strolling one night he catches Mrs. Elliott in a very precarious position...

Check out other great books by this author!

Two's Company

Book Blurb:

Ian James was raised in the lap of luxury, but he was also raised knowing that nothing worth having comes without working for it. Expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and take over the law firm one day, Ian works as an errand boy during the summer months between high school and college. One of those errands sends him to a very young, very wealthy, and very sexy widow who has plans of her own for Ian. When Ian discovers that older, wealthy women will pay him for sex, becoming a lawyer is no longer in his future. Gillian Carmichael needs a vacation, so when her best friend, Sylvia suggests she accompany her back home to Chicago, Gillian accepts. But when Gillian meets Sylvia’s brother, Ian, the attraction is instant. There’s just one little thing standing in the way . . . .

The Many Shades of Love

Book Blurb:

Jim Williams is tall, black and beautiful and when he meets gorgeous Steve Wheeler, the attraction is instantaneous and hot! Steve Wheeler hasn't been with a man in more than seven months, but when he meets his new associate, Steve wants to know more about Jim. As the two men get to know each other over golf and beer, they realize their chemistry is right on target and when they have dinner together at Steve's house, the sex is hotter still. But when Jim's ex-lover, Alan, comes back into his life with devastating news, will it be more than Jim and Steve's new love can survive?

Love without You

Book Blurb:

When Jessica is blindsided by her husband Ben leaving her, his excuse simply being they are no longer compatible. She is left wondering, what did she do wrong and did she miss any signs? Jessica continues on with life as best as she can only to be constantly reminded about Ben and the life they had, life often becomes so unbearable that she resorts to other methods to alleviate the pain. Life seems bleak until Jessica meets Josh, she is instantly attracted to him, who is this mystery man? Is it love at first sight or a heartbreak in the making?

Grounded

Book Blurb:

Patty just recently lost her job due to her company downsizing. Even worse, she has no way to take care of her financial obligations. On her way home from just being fired, things get worse, while Patty is struggling to get together all of her belongings, she looks up to meet Dion. Dion instantly falls for Patty, and figures out a way to see her again. Dion knows this is not allowed, but proceeds with his plan anyways, knowing what consequences may come for such actions.

GRRR!

Book Blurb

Do you like it rough? Rico and Katia are drawn to one another and share a night of passion, then go their separate ways but can’t stop thinking about each other. After a string of one nighters, they meet again, and this time the fur is gonna fly!

for such actions.

Ghostly Touch

Book Blurb

Something strange is happening with Zula. Every time she shuts her eyes to sleep, she’s pleasured in ways she has never known in real life, and she doesn’t know who the dream-lover is either.

When her plumbing goes on the fritz, she calls a plumber, and he turns out to be the most handsome man she’s ever seen. They begin dating but never once does he attempt to woo her into bed. He doesn’t even attempt to kiss her beyond a chaste goodnight kiss and Zula is getting quite perturbed by the lack of affection because she can tell Connor wants her. And after a visit from great-grandma Zula and her current beau, who looks exactly like Connor, Zula begins to suspect their relationship goes much deeper than either knows. After a strange warning from grandma Zula, that leaves Zula wondering what’s really going on, she winds up in a very unfamiliar place. Trussed up like a hog, Zula is tossed into a pond while the crowd chants, Witch, witch, kill the witch. As the water engulfs her, Zula holds her breath and prays for a miracle. But she’s all alone and every cell in her body is gasping for air. Where is her dream lover now that she really needs him?

Chapter One

May I Have This Dance?

The Continental Ritz Hotel's grand ballroom was ablaze with candlelight. Reflections skipped along the walls from delicate cut crystal chandeliers and sconces. Tables set with silver candlesticks and vases of fresh flowers brought scents of springtime. Fresh evening air wafted through the open French doors, helping cool the many guests huddled in cliquish groups, sipping champagne or cognac, chatting and laughing. Handsome men dressed in their finest tuxedoes, their leather shoes shined to mirror sheen stood in groups drinking brandy and smoking cigars. Ladies, adorned with the latest fashions made from exquisite silks, satins, and lace, revealed mounds of white cleavage as they floated across the room. Women tried to attract the richest men for daughters who'd come of age, all hoping to fill their dance cards with the most eligible bachelors, and more hoping to gain extremely wealthy in-laws.

Gavin Richard Charles Philip Stone III was definitely ranked among those sought after. He was from not only one of the wealthiest families in the Deveaux Valley, but also sole heir to more than a million acres of the finest and most fertile lands. Several thousand head of cattle, horses, and sheep, as well as three manor houses in the valley, a chateau in France, an estate in Italy, not to mention the vineyards there, and a fleet of merchant sailing vessels, added to his wealth. All told, Gavin Stone III was worth more than all of the young men at the ball combined.

Rich beyond comprehension, he was also devastatingly handsome. His black hair set off eyes as blue as a midsummer sky. Powerfully built, he carried himself with a gracefulness that, if mentioned, would embarrass him. Well-read and highly educated, he spoke five languages fluently, and was a master with the sword and gun, as well as with his fists. The small scar on his cheek, the remnants of a barroom brawl, only added to his ruggedly handsome appearance. However, Gavin's upbringing taught him not to put his faith in his looks or his material possessions. His father said both could be lost in but a blink of an eye and the only thing a man could really count on was his own character. Dignity, honesty, and integrity were desired attributes. His mother taught him the piano and manners, and Gavin grew to be a humble man not easily led by fancy words or a pretty face, much to the chagrin of many of the women attending this evening's affair.

I would so love to save a dance for you, Mr. Stone, said a pretty young woman as she batted her eyes at him from behind a fan.

Gavin smiled pleasantly, looking into her dark brown eyes. I would be honored, Miss Haversham, however, I am currently otherwise occupied. The disappointment was evident on her face and Gavin knew his rejection counted among the few received in her short social life. What Gavin knew, and Miss Haversham didn't, was that her father was deeply in debt and counting on his daughter to balance the books. He bowed politely and turned on his heel. Glancing around the room, Gavin spied another young lady, sitting alone at a table in the rear of the room, and he made his way to her.

Hello, he said, with a smile that showed dimples in each cheek. He watched as the young woman sized him up. I'm afraid we haven't been formerly introduced, he continued, I'm Gavin Stone.

Angela Elliott, she said, extending one gloved hand and allowing him to place a quick kiss upon it.

Might I sit, Miss Elliott?

Angie glanced around the room as if searching for someone. She took a deep breath then exhaled. "It's Mrs. Elliott."

I apologize, Madam, to you and your husband. I hope I haven't offended you.

Her lips curved ever so slightly as she replied, You have not offended me, Mr. Stone. I am a widow. No harm done.

I am sorry for your loss. May I get you a cup of punch?

Yes. Thank you, sir.

Gavin turned to go after the punch, wondering if the beautiful, young Mrs. Elliott had married an older man. Arranged marriages were still a part of life, even if Gavin did not agree. To a lot of men, a woman was worth no more than the dowry she came with and often wound up either bred or beaten to death.

Women were pretty playthings to most men and often couldn't carry a conversation concerning anything more than the latest fashion or social calendar. Gavin doubted he'd ever marry, but if he did, he wanted a woman who would be more than a brood mare. He wanted an equal match in every way.

~ * ~

Angela inhaled deeply then let the breath out slowly as she watched Gavin walk away. Though she thought him very handsome, she pushed the thought away. What use did she have for a man, handsome or otherwise? She'd had her man, her time of happiness, and now it was over. There would never be another husband for her, or another life, except the one she now lived. No, she corrected herself, she wasn't living; she merely existed. Her life ceased to exist that day, nearly three years ago, when her dear husband also ceased to exist. Now, she simply breathed in and out because she had no other choice. Deep in thought, her reverie broke when her companion approached.

Mrs. Waterston, where have you been all evening?

The buxom older woman seemed out of breath as she took a chair next to Angie. Forgive me. I didn't mean to leave you alone all evening, but it's been so long since we've been out. I haven't seen a single friend in ages, so I've been catching up.

That is only because you refuse every tea invitation. You won't attend a single picnic, and you sit home with me every evening. I go to bed just to have a moment's peace.

Angela, Mrs. Waterston began. How would it look if I was gallivanting around? I'm your caregiver and can't just leave you alone.

Angie rolled her eyes as a retort formed on her tongue, but just then, Gavin returned with the punch, so she bit back the harsh words and remained silent.

Excuse me, Gavin said, bowing